This year marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One and we have assembled galleries of pictures, stories and mementoes in tribute to the North East men and women who lived and died during that terrible and extraordinary time.

Robert Gutherson died 14 November 1916. Colin Wheeler tells the story.

Of all the Memorials in the Valley, none is more poignant than one that might pass unnoticed by the passer by. It takes the form of a glass panel bearing the name Warlencourt above the front door of a house in Thropton.

It was there that Barbara, the widow of Private Robert Gutherson lived and brought up her three children in the house and shop she had built in the centre of the village.

Robert died just two days short of his 34th birthday, during an attack on the Butte de Warlencourt, in the final stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Robert Gutherson, a fine looking soldier, was the son of the later William and Isabella Gutherson of Thropton.

He had married Barbara Laidler in 1910 and she bore him three children, Annie, William and Catherine. He was employed as a postman and joined the 17th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, in which he was serving in France at the time of his death. Postcards addressed to Master Willie Gutherston during his time in training at Marske before going to France show him to have been a devoted father, and in one of these he advised his three year old son: When Daddy is away, you will have to look after Mummy.

The Butte de Warlencourt is an ancient burial mound in the Somme départment of northern France. The hill had earned an evil reputation during the battles of WWI, because it dominated the British lines and was used for artillery observation by the Germans. It was very strongly defended and a number of attempts to capture it had met with heavy casualties. The Commanding Officer of another North East battalion said later: The Butte itself would have been of little use to us ... but it had become an obsession.

It loomed large in the minds of the soldiers in the forward area ... so it had to be taken. Zero Hour on 14th November 1916 was in the early morning and, by late evening, the attack had failed and the Battalion had withdrawn with heavy casualties. One of these was Robert Gutherson. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, one of over 71,000 men of the British and South African armies who perished in the battles of the Somme and have no known grave. His name appears on a number of the Valleys Memorials and a font in his memory was to be found in the former Presbyterian Church in Thropton, bearing the inscription:

To the Glory of God and in memory of Robert Gutherston who was lost in the Great War 14th Nov. 1916 Presented by his widow and family Dedicated 28th May 1939 He has never been forgotten by his family.

John Robert Edwards

John Robert Edwards (known as Bob) of 79 Hugh Street, Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne was born November 1894, died December 1984, aged 90. He was in the Royal Engineers attached to the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

Helen Charlesworth of Plymouth (formerly Walker), his Grand daughter, tells Bob's story: "Bob attested on the 7th April 1913 to the 50th Northumbrian Division, Royal Engineers (Territorial Force) and was embodied on 5th August 1914 when war broke out.

He served in France and Belgium from 15th April 1915 until early 1919 when he was demobilised. In that four year period he only had two periods of leave - on both occasions his mother made him strip off his uniform as soon as he got home and put it in the oven so that the heat would kill the lice.

Bob survived the war with only a slight wound which he received on 9th March 1918 at Chemin des Dames, France.

In February 1919 he had his photograph taken standing with hundreds of other allied troops in front of the Arc De Triomphe in Paris.

Bob came home to 34 Clara Street, Benwell and returned to his position with the G.P.O. after marrying Gertie Brewis in 1923 and having two children. He worked up until he was in his eighties, riding his pedal bike to work every day to Swan Hunters shipyards in Walker.

He was forced to retire to allow a younger man to take the job."

Robert Mitchell

Robert Mitchell of Scremerston, Berwick upon Tweed was born on February 17th 1899 and died September 17th 1916, aged 17 years and 7 months.

Phyllis McGraw of Pegswood tells her relation's story: "Robert Mitchell travelled from his home in Berwick to Alnwick to enlist in the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers on July 5th 1915. He was an adventurous, musical and athletic young man who played in the Scremerston Colliery band, boxed proficiently and after enlistment won several regimental long distance races.

He was appointed as a Dispatch Rider in March 1916 and embarked for France in July of that year. He was posted and transferred in September to the 1/4th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment as they had suffered heavy losses. He was amongst the Dispatch Riders who went into action with the regiment on September 17th 1916 on part of the Leipzig Redoubt.

It was recorded that 'many were being employed as messengers or guides, some had lost their bearings for it was now quite dark and there were many casualties'. Private Robert Mitchell was one the men killed in action that day aged 17 years and 7 months. His name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and is recorded on both the Scremerston and Berwick War Memorials."

Joseph Wardle

Joseph Wardle of Blyth was born in 1894 and died 1921, aged 27. He was in the Lincoln Regiment.

Josephine Claridge of Buckinghamshire, his granddaughter, tells his story: "Joseph Wardle met my grandmother while at a training camp on Cannock Chase. Before joining the army he was the manager of the local Cooperative society. He fought on the Somme and was taken prisoner. He did return home but died after the war of his war wounds. He is buried in Cowpen Cemetary, the Cowpen Colliery band played at his funeral on May 1st 1921.

A collection was made and presented to his young son Joseph, my father, aged 3. Although I never knew my grandfather I can still hear my grandmother saying what a lovely kind man he was and how she never loved anyone else in the same way.

Shortly before he died she had lost her second baby who died about 3 months old. I was named after him."

Florence Bolland

Florence Bolland, of Low Fell, Gateshead.

Peter Hagen of Gateshead, her Great Nephew, tells her story: "Flossie was a nurse at the outbreak of WWI and served in field hospitals on the western front.

She had an album which she gave to wounded soldiers who wrote/drew in it, and it serves as a reminder of what went through the minds of those who did or may have survived the carnage at the Somme and Ypres."

Darius Money

Darius Money, of Newcastle on tyne, was born in 1897 and died in 1939.

June Payne of Newcastle on tyne, his Granddaughter, tells his story: Darius volunteered, like most of the young men his age. He fought in France for the full duration of the war. He was gassed many times in the trenches.

He died in 1939 of with lung failure. My grandmother, Margaret Marshall, always swore it was due to the damage his lungs sustained during the war. After returning from the war he often suffered lung problems.

Jasper Gibson

Jasper Gibson, of Newcastle on tyne, was born in 1899, died 1980, aged 81.

June Payne of Newcastle on tyne, his Granddaughter, tells his story: Jasper was just 15 when he managed to blag his way into the army. Despite his age he was sent to France here he fought in the battle of the Somme. He was wounded in the stomach and was left to die or find his own way back to medical help.

He managed to get back and received treatment for his wounds, and was lucky to survive. The doctor was amazed he hadn't died before getting help. On his recovery he returned to France and again fought until the war ended. He was lucky enough to live a long, relatively healthy life, although he did see his son killed in the Second World War. What that generation must have thought of yet another war after the horrors they had endured is anyone's guess. But I have to say despite the hard life and horrors he saw during war time he was not only a gentleman, but a gentle man too.

George Young

George Young, of Chopwell was born 1897and died 1965, aged 68. He was a Private. Robert Young of Wylam, his Grandson, tells his story: At the age of 17, together with his older brother Joseph William Young, my grandfather joined the 9th Battalion DLI. They fought at the Battle of the Somme, Passchendaele and Messines Ridge.

After sustaining a shrapnel injury in France, my grandfather fought in Italy as part of the York and Lancs Regiment.

The brothers returned in 1918, despite hoping to return to work at Chopwell Colliery their wartime exposure to mustard gas proved prohibitive. True heroes.

John Marshall

John Marshall, of Blandford street was born in 1876 and died on the 25th September 1915, aged 39.

June Payne of Newcastle upon tyne, his Great granddaughter, tells his story: "John was too old to enlist, so he lied about his age and said he was younger. He was declared missing in action presumed dead in1915 in Flanders.

My great grandmother refused to move from Blandford street for years after the war in case he came back, one of the millions who lost their memories. He is listed on the Menin gate memorial near Bruge. He was married to Harriet Challis, who originally came from Atherstone in Warwickshire. He had 6 children, the eldest being my grandmother Margaret Marshall."

William James Abernethy

William James Abernethy, of Newcastle on Tyne, was born in 1892 and died in 1970, aged 78. He was a Royal Field Artillery Rank Gunner 936 .

Muriel LaTour of Canada (previously Newcastle upon Tyne), his Daughter, tells William's story: "He was in the Territorial Army, so he was one of the first to be 'called up.' He served as a horse dispatch rider from 1915 to 1918 in the Royal Field Artillery. They used horses because of the mud which motorbikes could not get through.

The life of a horse in this conflict was approximately 3 months. During the whole of his service he had 2 horses, Patsy and Satan. He must have had a charmed life to have got through that. He was gassed twice and suffered with lung problems for the rest of his life. On returning home he joined Newcastle Corporation on the buses, first as a ticket collector then as a driver on the No. 2 route for many years and then the No 13 route. He retired from the buses in the late 50s."

Sergeant George Quinn

Angela Quinn of Benton, tells the story of her Granddad Sergent George Quinn of the green Howard's Yorkshire Regiment: He is decorated but we don't know why. He died in the 30s due to complications following being gassed in the Great War.

He is pictured here wearing his Medals in the 1930s.

Sergent John Jonson MM

Sergent John Johnson MM, of the 8th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment was born 1880 and died aged 37 on September the 26th 1917.

His grandson Colin Johnson tells his story: "My late Grandfather was one of a family of 11 boys and girls. He was born at the Winnin near Bedlington Station, he was John Johnson born in 1880.

He worked at the Winnin Pit where he worked his way up to be a deputy. In his spare time he was a qualified methodist lay preacher and did the Methodist Chapel circuits in the area. He was also a first aider at the pit which he was also qualified in. In 1903 he married my grandmother Henrietta Reay, they both lived in the same colliery row, grandfather at 41 and grandmother at 51 Double Row.

In 1911 they moved to Choppington where he worked at the 'A' pit again as a deputy and first aider. In October 1914 he went to Bedlington top end and signed on for the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at the Co-op Hall. My grandmother and her three sons Matthew, George and Ben (my dad) moved to Hunns Buildings, Scotland Gate.

In 1915 he won the Military Medal for galantry in the field. He rose to the rank of sergeant. He was a stretcher bearer in the battlefield. My grandmother used to tell me that my grandfather would say prayers in the trenches with his companions in the battles on September 26 and 30. My Grandpa was killed in action aged 37, he is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery."

James Park

James Park, of Consett, County Durham was born in 1893 and died 17 Sept 1914, aged 21. James Park was a Private in the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards. No. 9087.

Margaret Nesbitt of Shotley Bridge, County Durham, his great niece, tells his story: "James was born in Braithwaite near Keswick. He moved with his family to Consett with eight children. John joined 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards in Newcastle. He was based in barracks near Buckingham Palace.

He sailed to France on 14 August 1914 and was eventually wounded and taken to a field hospital in Le Soupir farmhouse. The Germans fought for six weeks and finally bombed the hospital killing all the wounded, including James. James is commemorated on the war memorial at La Ferte sous Jouarre in Seine et Marne. This information was discovered in war diaries and confirmed by notes on the back of a family photo."

Norman Cunningham

Norman Cunningham, of Hexham Northumberland was born in 1892 and died in 1964, aged 71.

David Cunningham of Florida USA, his Grandson, tells his story: "My grandfather and his brother Joseph were both in the Northumberland Fusiliers 1st 4th battalion at the battle of Ypres.

After a heavy battle my grandfather lost contact with his brother, even though he was injured in the arm he searched the battlefield but never found him. Consequently he was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. After being released after the war he never forgave himself for not taking care of his younger brother.

Joseph Cunningham was never found, missing in action and presumed killed in action."

George Bruce

George Bruce, of St Cuthbert Road, Gateshead was born in 1891 and died 1916 aged 25. He was in the Northumberland Fusiliers N.E.R Battalion 17/1519 .

Richard Betts of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, their Great grandson, tells their story: "My great grandfather George Bruce, of the 17/1519 Northumberland Fusiliers, North Eastern Railways Battalion was killed in action on August 1st 1916 in the battle in Loos."

James Sewell

James Sewell, of Newcastle was born 1878 and died on the 26th September 1916, aged 38.

Gillian Brownley of Chester, his Granddaughter, tells his story: "A Sergent of the Northumberland Fusiliers, James was Killed in action. The three brothers of his Wife (Joseph, James & Frank Johnson, my three Great Uncles) were also killed in action."

John Stewart, of Washington.

Born 1882, died 1916, aged 34.

Jack Stewart

Jack Stewart of Ponteland his Grandson, tells John's story: "My grandfather Private John Stewart was born in Washington but was of Northern Irish descent. He enlisted in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in December 1914 when the regiment were recruiting volunteers of Irish descent on Tyneside.

After training in England the battalion moved to France in 1915 as part of the 34th Ulster Division. The battalion was based near Thiepval Wood on the Somme.

He was killed by shellfire in this wood on 28th June, two days before the main battle started.

I decided to trace his grave having had various photos and documents handed down to me. By contacting the Commonwealth War Graves Commission they supplied me with accurate details of his grave which was located in a French cemetery in a small village named Cerisy, on the Somme river.

By visiting the Public Records Office in Kew I obtained details from the Battalion diaries as to his death in action. The cemetery register also gave details that my grandfather was initially buried where he fell but was later reburied in Cerisy after the war.

He left a wife, Edith and two children, one of whom was my father. He is commemorated on the Washington Village War Memorial."

Charles Boad

Charles Boad of South Shields was born 1873 and died 1916, aged 43. He was a Private of the 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.

Dennis Boad of West Boldon, his Great Grandson, tells his story: "Charles was one of five brothers who fought in the first world war. He was killed in action at the battle of the Somme on 22nd September 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in France."

His four brothers returned home wounded.

Thomas Atkinson Parker

Matthew Parker, his son, tells the story: "Dad was from Blaydon and must have been one of the first to enlist. At Gallipoli he was left out for dead but was brought in by the Canadians. The family doctor, Dr Morrison, was also at Gallipoli and heard that dad had been wounded. He went around all the English field hospitals but could not find him as he was in a Canadian one.

"A few years ago I was told that when Grandma Parker went to visit him in hospital at Liverpool, she walked round the ward two or three times before she recognised him. I never heard him speak of Gallipoli.

"Dad also served in the trenches in Flanders. His best friend became trapped in underwater barbed wire, whilst swimming, and was drowned. Making his coffin was one of Dad's most difficult jobs. One thing I remember him talking about was the camping arrangements. When they camped beside a river or stream, the watering order was (starting upstream) drinking water for the men, drinking water for the horses, washing for the men and washing for the horses.

"Towards the end of the war, when the Germans were retreating quickly, the British were bussed to the front to relieve those already there. They would then have a short rest before the process was repeated.

"Dad died in April 1959, aged 63, largely due to heavy smoking."

Richard (Dick) Harker

Eva Davison of Chester-Le-Street, his great niece, tells his story: "Dick was my grandma's elder brother and hero. He was a professional footballer and was signed from Newcastle to Crystal Palace in 1905.

"He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers with his pals at the beginning of the war. He was reported missing in action on 9th April 1917 at Arras. My mam remembered being taken by her mother to meet the troop trains arriving at Newcastle, Gateshead and Felling stations at the end of the war, in the hope that Dick may get off a train, having lost his memory. He never did.

"His name is on the Arras Memorial in Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery and on the memorial in Heworth Church."

James Beach

James was the great-great-uncle of K Brough of Gosforth, who tells his story: "James enlisted in 1914 at West Moor, he was 19 years old.

"He was a Private in the ''A'' Coy 1st/6th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. His service number was 240329. He died at the age of 23 on 20/9/18 and is buried in the Leuze Communal Cemetery in Belgium.

"His death location was France and Flanders. He fought in the Western European Theatre and was awarded the Victory and British medals Roll number 0/1/105B26 page number 5871.

"He was the son of William and Rachel Beach of Letchwell Cottages in Forest Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne."

Joe Armstrong

Jack Armstrong, of High Spen and now living in Burnopfield tells us this story about his father, Joe: "On leaving school my father worked in the coal mines and when WW1 broke out, he enlisted in the Royal Naval Division in 1915. He did his tours of service at Dardanelles and Gallipoli fighting the turks In 1916 he transferred from the RNI into the Royal Navy aboard the Battleship Resolution. He spent most of his time aboard the Resolution until February 1918 came this big mission in which volunteers were mainly asked to undertake, which was the Battle of Zeebrugge. The raid on Zeebrugge, night of 22nd and 23rd April 1918, was classed as a suicide mission.

"The training and special preparation started February 1918 and from 4th April onward, to get the practice right this was carried out at Chatham dockyard The mission was to block the canal at the mouth entrance to stop German submarines entering and coming out of the canal harbour. On the night of the operation there were three boats commissioned to do this job, it was midnight when the first boat entered the harbour canal when the tide was low The boat went in mainly to destroy the submarine's nets by means of sinking the boat by blowing up the engines to scuttle it. The crews of the boat were picked up by motor launches. The second boat in was the "Intrepid" and this boat had to be scuttled in the mouth of the canal entrance crossways. Again crews being picked up by tug boats or motor launches. The third and last boat to enter the canal was the "Iphigenia" and this boat was the one my father was on - Joe Armstrong Stoker, able seaman. She had to be scuttled across the bows of the Intrepid to complete the blackage of the canal. At this time the wind had changed and blew the smoke screen away which had been laid down before the operation started This meant the Iphigenia came under heavy fire from the mole battery guns.

"She was hit twice on the starboard side, shells cutting the steam pipes, this enveloping part of the ship's steam but it did get the job completed and block the mouth of the canal. There was a slim chance of escape from these three blocking ships, but the mission was well carried out. After the Chatham training my father made it back safe and well with only a tracer scar on his right leg, but there were three crew killed on his rescue boat. Quite a few commanders were awarded with the Victoria Cross.

"On my father's home-coming the field club in High Spen presented him with a gold watch for his recognition of bravery.

"There was also something special laid on at High Spen Picture Hall for his service at Zeebrugge. After being demobbed he went back into the mine and altogether did 46 years in the mines. After WW1 my father died on 25th Feburary 1975, aged 83.

"I was proud to be my father's son."

John Snowdon

Reg Snowdon of Ponteland, his son, tells his story: "Johnny Snowdon was born in 1893. His father was a Freeman of Alnwick so Johnny was educated at Alnwick Grammar School.

"He served his time as a comp with The Alnwick Gazette before joining the staff of The Newcastle Chronicle. Not tall enough to be a gunner, in 1916 Johnny enlisted as a driver with the Royal Field Artillery.

"Posted to France, he was promoted gunner when the taller men had all been killed. Johnny was wounded in 1917 at Passchendaele. Seated on the side of a shell crater, tying up his bootlaces, he found he could not stand up.

"A piece of shrapnel from a nearby shell-burst had carried away two inches of bone from his right leg.

"Three years and twenty-seven operations later, he ended his convalescence in a Yorkshire hospital. Wearing the invalid’s

blue suit and red tie, he also met his future wife in the Valley Gardens, Harrogate.

"For the rest of his life, permanently deaf from the gunfire and limping with a surgical boot on his short leg, Johnny continued as a linotype operator, mainly setting-up the small ads for the Chronicle.

"In his spare time he lovingly tended his garden. Johnny died in 1973."

Alexander Stephenson

Enid Stephenson of Boldon, their Niece,by marriage, tells his story: "George, one of three Stephenson brothers to enlist, was injured and sent home to recover. He then deserted and worked as a miner. When Alex was reported missing presumed dead, George went back to France and survived the war. We think he went back to look for his brother. Their story is told in the book of the Tyneside Irish.

"Alex was never found and his name is on the Thiepval Memorial."

George Edward Sinclair

Julie Hewitt Harris of Gosforth, their Granddaughter, said: "My grandfather saved a 5 year old German boy from drowning by diving into the river in 1919 in Germany while still a serving soldier."

Patrick Butler

Cheryl Potter of Wideopen, his great-great-niece, tells his story: "Joined 1st Tyneside Irish, lived in Newcastle since he was 7 years old.

"Died 1st July 1916.

"His brother Michael died same day, he was in the Northumberland Fusiliers I believe.

"Patrick Butler was mentioned in the book Tyneside Irish 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th (service) battalions of the Northumberland Fusiliers by John sheen.

"Patrick was born in Tipperary."

Charles Miller Duke

Linda Alvis, his great-grandaughter, tells the story: "Back in the late 1800s, my great-grandfather Duke was a steward on the Royal Train and on one of his journeys south he met Mary Avenell in Kent and brought her back to Helmsley Road Newcastle as his wife.

"Charlie went off to war with the Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish), became a Sergeant and was looking forward to coming home and marrying his fiancée.

"One morning in March 1918 his mother told the family shed had a vivid dream in the night. It seemed as if the wall of the bedroom opened and in came Charlie, calling out to her, Mother. She knew then he had died and it turned out to be true.

"In due course she received his Victory Medal with accompanying document thanking her for Services Rendered. She had to sign and tear off a slip at the bottom of the document and return it to prove she had received it. The serrated edge of this very formal notification was a terribly sad reminder which moved me to write the poem Remembrance.

"Charlie's name is on the Arras War Memorial."

John Henry Taylor

Linda Alvis, his grandaughter, tells his story: "My grandmother Caroline May married my grandfather John Henry Taylor from Newcastle. After a spell in Manchester they returned to the north, settling with their family in Roxburgh Terrace, Whitley Bay near sister Bertha Jenkinson's large family in Holly Avenue and Rene Newman who ran the famous newspaper and sweet shop in Station Road.

"John Henry fought in Italy during WWI and luckily survived, although with shrapnel still embedded in his back to the day he died in his 90s.

"He also lost a young brother in the war, Herbert Emptage Taylor RE., who died just 20 days after Charlie. Herbert's name is on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Both remembered with honour.

"Way back in the 1960s, my grandfather John Henry was featured on BBC TV Look North as The oldest errand boy in the North! He was in his 70s, still delivering meat from his son-in-laws shop (Ewen's Butchers in Whitley bay) and on a heavy duty bicycle.

"He was a dear old cheerful chap and much loved in the community. My Father was from Bristol which is where I live now, but my mother's Northumbrian family were always very dear to me and I spent many happy times with them as well as a wonderful term at the old Park School in Whitley Bay.

"Sadly very few of that extremely large family are now left! The memories are still wonderful though. Charles Miller Duke and Herbert Emptage Taylor, together with the millions who fought and died for their country, never to return home, the unfulfilled promise of their lives before them, should not be forgotten."

Robert Gutherson

Colin Wheeler tells his story: "Of all the memorials in the valley, none is more poignant than one that might pass unnoticed by the passer by. It takes the form of a glass panel bearing the name Warlencourt above the front door of a house in Thropton. It was there that Barbara, the widow of Private Robert Gutherson lived and brought up her three children in the house and shop she had built in the centre of the village.

"Robert died just two days short of his 34th birthday, during an attack on the Butte de Warlencourt, in the final stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Robert Gutherson, a fine looking soldier, was the son of the later William and Isabella Gutherson of Thropton. He had married Barbara Laidler in 1910 and she bore him three children, Annie, William and Catherine.

"He was employed as a postman and joined the 17th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, in which he was serving in France at the time of his death.

"Postcards addressed to Master Willie Gutherston during his time in training at Marske before going to France show him to have been a devoted father, and in one of these he advised his three year old son: "When Daddy is away, you will have to look after Mummy."

"The Butte de Warlencourt is an ancient burial mound in the Somme départment of northern France. The hill had earned an evil reputation during the battles of WWI, because it dominated the British lines and was used for artillery observation by the Germans. It was very strongly defended and a number of attempts to capture it had met with heavy casualties. The Commanding Officer of another North East battalion said later: "The Butte itself would have been of little use to us ... but it had become an obsession. It loomed large in the minds of the soldiers in the forward area ... so it had to be taken." Zero Hour on 14th November 1916 was in the early morning and, by late evening, the attack had failed and the Battalion had withdrawn with heavy casualties. One of these was Robert Gutherson.

"He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, one of over 71,000 men of the British and South African armies who perished in the battles of the Somme and have no known grave. His name appears on a number of the Valleys Memorials and a font in his memory was to be found in the former Presbyterian Church in Thropton, bearing the inscription: "To the Glory of God and in memory of Robert Gutherston who was lost in the Great War 14th Nov. 1916 Presented by his widow and family. Dedicated 28th May 1939." He has never been forgotten by his family."

Private Henry Bell

Private Harry Bell (no 1952) N.F.A. R.A.M.C. Northumbrian Division, who had been at the front about 18 months, was killed by shell-shock on October 1st, 1916.

Private Bell, prior to the outbreak of war, was employed as a Linotype Operator at the Mail and Leader Office, Newcastle on Tyne. After serving his apprenticeship at the Durham Chronicle, he moved to Bishop Auckland, and for several years was on the composing staff of the North-Eastern Daily Gazette.

For some considerable time he acted as branch secretary at Bishop Auckland, and took an active interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of the T.A. Private Bell also took a prominent part in the Labour and Trade Union movement.

He is described by a chum, who had written a touching letter of sympathy to Mrs. Bell, as "a good lad and always working for the benefit of his comrades. He was busy right up to the time of his death, and suffered no pain". Private Bell was 33 years old.

We are grateful to readers for helping us build up a marvellous collection of stories and pictures in our galleries of Your WW1 Heroes this year. While we are happy to accept submissions which may be published in the future, we are no longer looking to regularly publish new galleries.